Japan’s Defense Ministry has requested a record 8.5 trillion yen ($59 billion) budget for 2025 to strengthen its defense capabilities, particularly on its southwestern islands, amid a growing military threat from China, AP News reports.
This budget is part of Japan’s five-year plan to double its annual military spending to around 10 trillion yen by 2027, making it the world’s third-largest military spender after the US and China. The budget includes developing long-range missiles, satellite systems, drones, and artificial intelligence to compensate for a declining number of servicemembers due to Japan’s shrinking population.
Japan is struggling with recruitment issues and efforts are being made to reform the military’s working conditions and improve recruitment, especially among women. The ministry also seeks to address internal issues like sexual harassment, corruption scandals, and leaks of classified information.
